Release valve mechanism



Aug. -12, 1941. c. K. sHELLEY 2,252,418

RELEASE VALVE MECHANISM Filed May 2, 1939 INVENTOR Czitlfolc 7C ,keiley l when air is shut off, the recoil rapidity with which the air' is Patented ug.' 12, 1941 MNITED -S'IArlazs PATENT 'orifice 2,252,418 RELEASE VALVE MECHANISM Clinton Shelley, Bonners Ferry, Idaho Application May 2, 1939, Serial No. fzlhffillv 4 claim;

This invention relatesvr to improvements -in quick release valve mechanisms for fluid pressure such as air.

The device of this invention is adapted for use in connection with pile drivers, power shovels, drag lines, or any like uses wherein it is highly desirable to afford a quick release of air pressure, after it has heenl applied, so as to speed up for a renewed air application, thereby reducing delay and serving to maintain maximum capacity of the operating mechanism. n

In many instances, the source oi supply of compressed airis located at a remote point with respect to the operating mechanism, or in other words, the mechanism to be operated, and pressure is forced to exhaust throughout a considerable length of piping, thereby causing an appreciable delay of operation, as the alternate application and shuton of air citen occurs at a rate of thirty times a minute, in many forms of apparatus.

ri'his rapid alternate air inlet and exhaust device is especially adapted to iunction in the class ci apparatus above denned, and it diders essentially from the periodic application and exhaust oi air'in an air hralte system tor railroad cars or automobile -husses and freight trucks hecause of the fact that in the latter uses, the applied and exm hausted is not a primary requisite, hy reason oi the periodic and citen prolonged time at such changes occur, whereas, the present invenn tion is especially designed to function in a capac ity in which an extreme .rapidity ci? alternate application and exhaust ol air is absolutely essential to normal operation. 'in other words, in which rapidity of such alternate action is constantly the rule rather than the exception.

The invention has many other objects vand features which will loe connection with the accompanying drawing and which will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. l is a sectional View of one form of my device with the parts in an operating or' nonexhaust position. V

Fig. 2 is asimilar view with'the parts in a non-operating or exhaust position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 3--3v of Fig. 2.

more iully described in Like characters vof reference designate similar parts throughout the different iigures of the drawing.

In Fig. 5, l have diagrammatically shown one of the many uses of the invention wherein a working cylinder l, having a piston 2, for actuation of any type of machinery, is shown coni nected with a fluid pressure pipe for conveying compressed air, the pipe being indicated at i, and being connected with a pressure tanlf` fl, which may be supplied with compressed air from any source, not shown. i valve t, mechanically actuated, to be alternately opened and closed, is shown relatively close to the tank il, and the device of my invention isindicated at A, as being interposed in pipe i, near the cylinder i. lin practice, the tank may be even ility feet or more from cylinder Il, and the' advantage or disposing my improved quick release valve mechanism closely adjacent the operating cylinder l, will be presently explained.

With reference to Figs. l and il, ll shall refer to the pipe li, as aninlet connection, and to a pipe li, as an outlet or recoil connection. l1 have shown a'housing l, which may he cylindrical in more exhaust ports or openings d, preferably near Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

- Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing one use of the device as it would be connected up in practice.

the outlet connection. d. n. head il, is shown threaded on one end oi housing "i, and having threaded engagement at lli, with outlet connection t, while a similar head li, closes the remain ing end oi housing "l, and has threaded connec tion with inlet at lll. Suitahle packing ill and lll is provided, as may he dictated hy mechanical skill, and it will he understood that the capacity or the exhaust ports il, will 'ce proportioned to accommodate the desired rate of exhaust, with rei'erence to the capacity of the inlet and outlet connections, in order that the rate oi exhaust shall effectively meet requirements, all of which is amatter of designing.

Reference will next be made to my improved release piston and to the means'whereby the saine is `actuated to be moved, or in this instance, reciprocated into different positions in the housing.

As shown, the piston .is formed of a shell having a longitudinal section i3, which Ais cylindrical, to slidably iit the interior of housing l, and this shell is sufficiently short in length, with respect to the length of the housing, to permit the shell to reciprocate therein. Said shelll is provided with a head I4', which functions to control the exhaust ports 8, by either closing or opening the same, and said head has-a bore l5,

in constant communication with the outlet connection 6. I have shown the remaining end of said shell provided with a valve seat section I6, which may have threaded connection with said shell, as indicated at a ange I8, affording a means for engaging an interposed packing I9. Said seat section is provided with a valve seat 20, and has a bore 2|, that is in constant communication with the inlet connection 3. As the interior 22, of shell I3, is hollow, it will now be clear that with the bores I and 2|. I have provided the piston with a continuous passage bore affording a flow therethrough of uid pressure from the inlet connection 3, to the outlet connection 6, and for reverse ,passage of recoil pressure from outlet 6, into said bore, as shown by arrows in Figs. 1 and 2.

Reference will next be made to my improved piston actuator which is herein shown in the form of a valve closure adapted to coact with valve seat 20.

Said closure is indicated at 23, and is provided with a closure portion 24, adapted to engage said seat 20. Said closure 23, is provided with guiding means whereby it will be maintained in alinement with said seat 20, when moving toward or away from said seat, and as shown,

I have provided said closure with guiding portions that are peripherally arranged to engage shell I3, as indicated at 25. ing portions, 25, the closure is peripherally recessed at 26, to provide a plurality of by-pass ports for passage of the pressure fluid past said closure when t`r 1. same is un-seated.

The valve seat section I6, is provided with a' port closing face 21, surrounding seat 20, for closing said by-pass ports 26, when closure 23, is seated, as shown in Fig. 2. Said closure 23, is provided with a spring retaining boss 28, for holding an expansively acting spring 29, in interposed relation between said closure 23, and a portion of the bore passage,.which, as shown, is a shoulder 30. The end of boss 28, and the upper face of the closure 23, constitute a recoil pressure face 3|, and the remaining side will be designated as the inlet pressure face 32. While spring 29, normally acts to seat closure 23, it will be of insufcient strength so to do, as the closure must be seated or moved toward and into engagement with seat 20, against the incoming flow of pressure fluid, and the incapacity of spring 29, to seat the closure, under certain conditions, is a feature to be later described. The spring 29, functions as a means to limit unseating movement of the closure and to shift the piston into an exhaust closing position.

Because of 4the rapidity with which the piston is shifted from exhaust closing to opening positions, and vice versa, I may provide a cushioning spring 33, between head I I, and one end of the piston to cushion the movement of said piston, however, in actual practice, I have successfully operated the device without this spring.

In order to render the opposed faces 3| and 32, more effective, I have shown the bore |5 diverging endwise of the piston and likewise, bore 2|, to thus reduce the end areas of the piston, and hence, to a major extent, both the recoil and the incoming pressure will be localized against the opposite pressure faces of the elosure.

Reference will next be made to the modied form shown in Fig. 4.

In this form, al1 the parts are the same as in the preferred form, and have the same refer- Between these guidence numerals except the closure 34. I have shown this closure'provided with the same guiding portions and by-pass ports, 35 and 36, respectively, as in the preferred form but have omitted boss 28, and the spring 29. I have4 shown one pressure face 31, flat, and have provided stops 38, xed to shell I3, for limting endwise movement of closure 34, toward the outlet end of the device when said closure is shifted into a passage'I opening position, as shown in Fig. 4. The remaining or incoming pressure face 39, being the same as in the preferred form. As will later appear, both the spring 29, and the stops 36. broadly function as a piston shifting means, only the spring has the advantage of shifting the piston yieldingly.

While the operation may be clear from the foregoing, I will briey recapitulate the same as follows:

Assuming that the device is in the exhaust opening position shown in Fig. 2, with the closure 23 seated to close the bore passage, and the valve 5 closed, it will be clear that the exhaust ports 8 are fully open. Now suppose the valve 5, is opened, then the incoming pressure through connection 3, will first enter the bore passage and will engage the pressure face 32, of closure 23. Since this pressure uid acts with full force almost instantly, and since spring 29, is not strong enough to maintain the closure 23 seated `against the incoming pressure, the resulting thrust will almost instantly act through spring 29, to.not only un-seat said closure but also to shift the piston from the exhaust opening position shown in Fig. 2, to Ithe exhaust closing position shown in Fig. 1.

It is immaterial to the efficiency of the device, whether the incoming pressure shifts the piston before or after it un-seats the closure .23, since the main oilice of spring 29, is to act upon the piston, specifically, shoulder 30, thereof, to shift the piston into the Fig. 1 position, whereupon the spring will be placed under tension and will limit movement ofthe closure 23, endwise, beyond the approximate position shown in Fig. 1, as further opening movement of said closure is unnecessary. In any event, the spring 29, will function to yieldingly shift the piston and cushion the shock of impact of the'latter against head 9, of the housing. This is important, since the rapid movement of the piston causes shattering and considerable wear on the housing.

The incoming pressure will thus constantly engage face 32, of closure 23, and will be diverted thereby into the by-pass ports 26, flowing past closure 23, and endwise of the bore passage into outlet connection 6, and then to the parts to be actuated. As long as incoming pressure continues, the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 1, and of course there will be a considerable pressure beyond the device, which may be termed the actuating pressure that might be disposed in cylinder I, for instance.

Now when valve 5, is shutoff, it is highly desirable to quickly relieve the actuated parts from this accumulated pressure, as otherwise, operations will be very greatly retarded. Thus when valve 6, is closed, this reduces the pressure on one side of the piston, namely, the valve seat end, and consequently, the actuating or accumulated pressure will instantly recoil from said outlet connection 6, back into the bore passage of the piston and into engagement with the recoil pressure face 3|, of closure 23, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. Of course, spring 29, will have seated closure 23, just as soon as pressure in the Ivalve seat end of the piston has been reduced.

Thus, recoil pressure will almost instantly act against pressure face 3|, and shift the piston into the exhaust opening position shown in Fig. 2, as such pressure will instantly seat the closurev and hence it can act on a rigid structure. quickly exhaust the recoil pressure through ports 8, and of course no ldust can enter housing 1, while exhaust is taking place, and when exhaust is not taking place, there is no circulation that would permit entrance of dust. In fact, the alternate movement of the piston is .so -rapid tha no dust problem is involved.

If it is not desired to employ spring 29,` the closure 34, of Fig. 4, will function in all other re- This will' exhaust p01.ta release piston slidable in said housing for controlling said port and having a passage bore for passage therethrough of pressure fluid from said inlet to said outlet connection, a piston actuating valve closure slidably guided in said bore in 'clearance relation therefrom and having oppositely disposed. pressure engageable faces for causing shifting movement of said pis- 4 ton into exhaust closing or opening positions,

spects in precisely the same manner except that I the yielding action of the spring will be missing. However, closure 34, will be as effective in shifting the piston into an exhaust closing position, and the recoil action will almost instantly seat the closure andshift the piston into an exhaust opening position. The spring 33, will cushion the impact of the piston in the latter movement.

Lubrication of the parts is effected by the drip oil supply usually applied at the compressor.

Now it will be clear that I have avoided all' said bore having a valve seat for coaction with said closure to close said bore when said closure is seated, and an expansively acting spring interposed between said closure and a portion of said bore for seating said closure while recoil pressure on one face acts to shift said piston into an exhaust opening position when incoming pressure is reduced, and said spring engaging and yieldingly shifting said piston into an exhaust closing position when incoming pressure on the remaining face of said closure un-seats the latter and opens said bore.

3. Aquickv release valve mechanism comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection for pressure fluid and provided with an exhaust port, a release piston slidable in said housing for controlling said port and having a passage bore for passage therethrough of presnection, a release piston slidable in said housing for controlling said exhaust portsgand having a passage bore for passage therethrough of Huid pressure from said inlet to said outlet connection, a piston actuating valve yclosure in said passage bore having oppositely disposed pressureengageable faces for causing shifting movement of said piston into exhaust closing or opening positions, said closure being in peripheral engagement with said bore for sliding movement lengthwise thereof independently of said piston and having peripheral by-pa'ss ports for normal passage of pressure duid past said closure when .the latter is un-seated, said :bore having a valve seat for coacti'on with said closure to close said bore and said bypass ports when said closure is seated, and an ex- 4pansively acting spring interposed between said closure and a portion of .said bore and acting with recoil pressure on one face of said closure yto seat the latter when pressure on the inlet side of said piston is reduced to shift said piston into an exhaust opening position, and said Spring serving to yieldingly shift said piston into an exhaust closing position when incoming pressure on the remaining face of said closure un-seats the latter.

2. A quick release valve mechanism, comprisin'g'a housinghavng an inlet and an outlet conhection for pressure iiuid and provided with an sure fluid from said inlet to said outlet connection and said bore having 4a valve seat, a piston actuating valve closure slidably guided in said bore in clearance relation thereto for escape of pressure fluid past said closure when the latter is un'-seated, said closure having oppositely disposed Vpressure engageable faces for causing shifting movement of said piston into exhaust closing or opening positions and being limited in movement in one direction by said seat, and means for restricting`movement of said closure in another direction, whereby incoming pressure will act on one face of said closure to un-seat the latter against said means and open said bore and shift said piston into an exhaust closing position, and whereby recoil pressure against the remaining face of said closure will seat the latter and close said bore and shift said pistoninto an exhaust opening position when incoming pressure is reduced.

4. A quick release valve mechanism comprising, a housing having an inlet and an outlet connection for pressure fluid and provided with an exhaust port, a release piston slidable in said housing for controlling said port and having a passage bore for passage therethroughv of -pressure uid from said` inlet to said outlet connection and recoil back pressure from said outlet connection, said bore having a valve seat, a piston actuating valve closure for opening or closing said bore and having an incoming` pressure engageable face and a recoil pressure engageable face and-being movable against incoming -pres- 4sure toward said seat, and a spring incapable of seating said closure against incoming pressure and sustaining said closure in a bore open position and engaging saidpiston to hold the latter in an exhaust closing position until incoming pressure is reduced,` whereupon said spring will seat said closure and recoil pressure will engage ,said recoil pressure face and cause said closure to shift said piston into an exhaust opening position.

\ CLINTON K. SHELLEY. 

